Woman murders girlfriend during blazing row, sparking debate over 'gender' violence

The victim, a woman aged 57, is said to have suffered regular violent incidences at her partner's hands, and when their neighbours heard of the killing, they said they had been half-expecting it.

They say the deceased was often seen with bruises and other outward physical signs of violence, and that the two women – who had been living together for many years – frequently had blazing rows.

Police were called out at around 03.00 to the apartment on the Passatge Sant Bernat and the younger woman was arrested.

Speaking out on the crime today, the Spanish Observatory Against Homophobia said identical legal procedures and protections needed to be put in place for victims of same-gender relationship violence as those which have been designed to help women attacked or killed by their husbands or boyfriends.

Very little is ever mentioned in the Spanish media about men who are victims of violence at the hands of their wives or girlfriends, and it is believed embarrassment and fear of stigma and ridicule may prevent those who suffer such aggression from reporting their ordeal.

But the Observatory, as well as the lesbian and gay association Colega-Madrid, cited research carried out in the USA, Canada and Australia which shows that domestic violence in all-male and all-female relationships is at a similar level to in heterosexual couples, and even, in some cases, the incidence is higher.

A study carried out by Richard Carroll of Northwestern University in Chicago, published in September 2014, says that in the USA, between 25% and 75% of women and men who are or have been in same-sex couples have suffered domestic violence at least once.

Paco Ramírez of Colega-Madrid says same-gender violence is 'invisible' and considered 'second-class', and that the true figures are unknown because victims do not often report their trauma.

Barcelona police say this was the case with the woman killed in the Raval apartment.

A huge national drive to protect women from violent boyfriends or husbands has been introduced over the past few years, including safe houses, electronic tags and 'recovery' programmes, plus a free helpline – 016 – which does not show up on an itemised bill.

Ramírez says same-sex violence victims need the same safety nets.

This said, anyone who is a victim of violence at the hands of a partner or ex-partner can ring 016, and help will be given irrespective of the gender of the victim or his or her attacker.